PJ Simon breaks out of scoring funk to lead San Mig to Game Three win over Alaska

Apr 26, 2014

Alaska's Calvin Abueva and San Mig import James Mays battle for a loose ball. Jerome Ascano

PETER June Simon broke out of a scoring funk, combining with import James Mays in a run that led San Mig past Alaska, 79-65, on Saturday and into the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The veteran Simon, who averaged just 7.0 points during the first two games of the best-of-three quarterfinal series, erupted for 21 points, hitting one jumper after another to punish the Aces' defense.

Joining the fray was the 6-8 Mays, who after an anemic Game Two performance, had 17 points and 24 rebounds in the Game Three win that kept alive the Mixers' quest for a third successive championship.

The 2-1 win in the best-of-three series led San Mig to a seventh straight semifinal appearance under coach Tim Cone, who, since his arrival at the start of the 2012 season, has given the franchise three championships - including the last two.

The win also ended Alaska's bid to defend the only title it has won in the post-Cone era.

“To be absolutely honest, I don’t think I’ll be here because Alaska’s just playing too high of a level to be able to beat them twice in a row,” said Cone after a heated, highly physical game that saw officials and coaches of both teams figure in a verbal spat at the sidelines.

Cone said he was happy to see his veteran-laden team play with a lot of composure even though the Mixers have battled injuries to players like Marc Pingris, James Yap, Justin Melton, and Mays.

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“You know, you go to the playoffs a lot. We get to Game Sevens and Game Fives and there are knockout game situations,” he said. “But these guys kinda have a blueprint on what’s successful for them.

"So they don’t really have that deep anxiety or deep panic coming to this game,” added the PBA’s all-time winning coach.

San Mig’s defense held the deposed champion to just 35.5 percent field goal.

JV Casio accounted for four of the team’s five three-point shots in the game, though it took him 13 attempts in the game. Rob Dozier, the reigning Best Import, led the Aces with 23 points and 16 rebounds.